Store-service wireway.



0. E. THOMPSON. STORE SERVICE WIREWAY.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2, 1908. 958,782. Patented May 24, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Asmara-vac 0. E. THOMPSON. STORE SERVICE WIREWAY. APPLIUATION rum) NOV.2, 1908.

958,782. Patented May 24, 1910. I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT CLEMENT E. THOMPSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORT0 AIR-LINE CARR-IE3, COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

STORE-SERVICE wInEwAY.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLEMENT E. THoMP- SON, a citizen of the United,States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State.

of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStore-Service Wireways, of which the following is a description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, in which corresponding letters of reference in thedifierent figures indicate like parts.

In constructing elevated wire-ways for store service apparatus, it isfrequently necessary, in order to enable the carrier to avoidobstructions or for other reasons, to provide curves for turning cornersor for varying the course of the way. Inasmuch as it is essential thatthe track wires should be kept under tension, it is obvious that anyvariation from a straight line must consist of an interposed portion orsection of special construction. This has in some cases heretoforeconsisted of a rigidly formed curved element specifically constructed ineach instance to conform to the angle of divergence of the track-wiresor of a number of small curved sections arbitrarily placed. When it isconsidered that the angles of divergence of the track wires may varyindefinitely, the expense and impracticability of such methods becomereadily apparent. Moreover, they cannot be satisfactorily adapted tovariations in grades at points where such variations occur.

The object of my invention is to overcome these objections by providinga device which, from its very nature, may be adapted to varying anglesof divergence of the track wires, as well as to varying grades; so thatin case it should become necessary to interpose a curve between up anddown grades, the curved portion may be so arched as to form a properapproach to both grades, thereby avoiding abrupt transitions,all ofwhich is hereinafter more particularly described and definitely pointedout in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation in perspective, of adevice embodying the features of my invention, showing a carrier uponthe way, Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in which a portion of the hanger,one of the supporting arms, the adjustable slide and a portion of theinner face of the guard is Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 2, 1908.

and arranged parallel thereto.

Patented May 2a, 1910.

Serial No. 480,719.

shown, the hanger, connecting ring and slide belng represented invertical section, Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through aportion of the hanger on a line midway between the diverging arms,showing the curved track element and guard in transverse section, andFig. t is a sectional view taken upon the line 4;- l, Fig. 1, viewed. inthe direction of the arrow there shown.

Referring to the drawings, a represents a hanger of well knownconstruction adapted to be rigidly attached to a ceiling. Mountedloosely upon said hanger so as to swing thereon are fittings or rings 6o, the latter of which bears upon a shoulder formed by a screw cap (Zsecured upon the lower end of the hanger. Jointedly connected at e f,respectively, to lugs upon the rings Z) c, are arms 9' h, which areadapted to be moved vertically by reason of said joints and laterally byreason of their connection with said rings. Mounted upon the arms 9 h,respectively, at or near their outer ends, are fittings or members i y,through which said arms are loosely projected so that the fittings mayslide thereon for the purpose hereinafter stated. I prefer to make thearms flat or polygonal so that only a longitudinal movement of thefittings may be permitted. A screw-threaded rod 70 is rigidly attachedto each of the arms 9 it near its inner end Said rods are passed looselythrough lugs Z Z upon the slides i and each is provided with a nut m, bymeans of which said slides may be adjusted and securely held in positionupon said arms.

A curved track element n, preferably tubular in cross-section, isrigidly attached near its respective ends to laterally extended flanges0, which consist of sheet-metal plates riveted beneath the upper cap andprojecting laterally from the inner edges of the slides i j, so as tocause said track elements to stand far enough away from the slides topermit a car to pass over said track element without obstruction.

A wire p intended to form a way for a cash or other carrier Q, isprojected through the curved tube and its respective ends attached tosuch divergent points as may be found necessary. The wire is then placedunder tension. An anchor wire, not shown, is connected by means of aturn-buckle r to a ring 8, upon the hanger and adjusted in the properdirection to resist the stress of the diverging wire p, a set-screw 6serving to lock said ring in place. When the diverging parts of the wireare placed under tension, it is obvious that the arms 9 it will, as aresult thereof, be caused to swing independently upon the hanger so asto conform to the angle described by the diverging portions of the wire.The slides 2' j may be read ily adjusted so that the curve of theinterposed track element a, may conform prop erly to the angle formed bythe diverging arms. This construction enables a curve of any desireddegree to be obtained merely as a result of stretching the track wireand adjusting the slides, which may be maintained in any desiredposition when adjusted, by means of the nuts m. An obvious advantage ofthis construction is that the wire way .is always tangential to the aredescribed by the interposed curved element, so that an abrupt approachto the curve is avoided.

Another important advantage of my invention is that by reason of thejoints 6 f, which permit a vertical movement of the outer ends of thearms, the device may be readily adapted to varying grades. For example,assuming that the point of attachment of the arms to the hanger is at ahigher level than that of the divergent ends of the wire way, the armswill each be inclined to conform to the grade of that part of the wireleading therefrom and the curved track element will be tiltedaccordingly so as to form an arch, the crown of which will be midwaybetween the arms. Should the curve be interposed in a continuous gradeinstead of between two descending grades, the curved element will assumemore or less of a spiral form, the pitch of which would vary accordingto that of the grade. It will thus be seen that my improved device isadapted to conform automatically to all of the varying conditions towhich it may be subjected.

In order to prevent the car from swinging while rounding the curve, Iprovide a guard 24, which is arranged to conform to the curve of thepart 02, and is supported by means of hangers c, which are rigidlyattached to the slides 2' 7'. A wheel w, upon the lower end of the car,serves to engage said guard. Inasmuch as the guard is connected to theslides, it is obvious that in adjusting the latter, the proper relationbetween the guard and curved track section will be maintained.

lVhile I prefer, as stated, to use a tube for the curved track element,I do not wish to be confined thereto, inasmuch as it is obvious thatsaid element may be formed from sheetmetal to represent a'segment of acircle in cross section, so that the wire may lie in the groove behindit, or the parts of the wire may be attached to the ends of a curved rodwithout departing from the principle 1nvolved. It is obvious that thediverging arms may be hinged to separate supports so long as they arefree to conform to the angle described by the track wires.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a store-service apparatus, the com bination with a divergingwire-way, of a hanger, arms jointedly mounted thereon to permit them toswing laterally, said arms having joints therein near to said hanger topermita vertical movement of their free ends, slides loosely mountedupon said arms, screw-threaded rods attached to each of said arms nearsaid hanger and connected with said slides by means of nuts, and ametallic tube connected near its ends with said slides by means oflateral extensions to hold the same away from said slides, said tubebeing bent to form a reentrant curve between said jointed arms andserving as a support for said wire-way, which latter is projectedthrough the passage therein.

2. In a store-service apparatus the combination with a diverging wireway of a hanger, arms jointedly mounted thereon to permit them to swinglaterally, said arms having oints therein near to said hanger to permita vertical movement of their free ends, slides loosely mounted upon saidarms, screw-threaded rods attached to each of said arms near said-hangerand connected with said slides by means of nuts, a metallic tube toreceive said wireway and support the same, said tube being connectednear its ends with said slides by means of lateral extensions to holdthe same away from said slides, said tube forming a reentrant curvebetween said jointed arms, arms extending downwardly from said slidesand a curved guard supported upon said arms beneath the level of saidwire-way whereby an adjustment of the slides to vary the curve of thetube may produce a corresponding variation in said guard.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses, this 31st day of October 1908.

CLEMENT E. THOMPSON.

YVitnesses D. H. F LETOHER, J. R. HOLLISTER.

